James McGuire
Partner
Overview
James McGuire is an environmental attorney in Holland & Knight's Dallas office and a member of the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group. Mr. McGuire focuses his practice on a variety of environmental regulatory and compliance issues at the local, state and federal levels. He brings significant experience from his time as a senior attorney and executive at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and as an environmental attorney in the private sector and for City of Dallas.
Mr. McGuire uses his thorough understanding of local, state and federal regulatory processes to guide and advise clients on regulatory compliance, permitting, enforcement defense and related issues. He also successfully ran a large environmental department and management system in an organization operating under a federal environmental consent decree, giving him distinct insight into how a regulated entity can achieve compliance and high environmental performance.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. McGuire served as regional counsel for the EPA Region 6, covering Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arkansas, where he oversaw all legal efforts and handled matters at the intersection of environment, water and energy. Previously, Mr. McGuire also served as acting deputy general counsel at EPA's Office of General Counsel – the highest career legal role in the agency – and oversaw matters related to all of the regions, air and radiation, water, solid waste and emergency response, and pesticides and toxics. He has significant experience working with federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in high-profile enforcement actions under the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Mr. McGuire has also held legal and executive leadership positions in local government, creating comprehensive environmental and climate action plans and other policies related to water, energy and the environment.
Representative Experience
Credentials
- Emory University School of Law, J.D.
- Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education, Certificate, Climate Change and Energy: Policymaking for the Long Term
- The University of Texas at Austin, M.S., Geological Sciences
- Duke University, B.S., Earth and Ocean Sciences, cum laude, with Highest Honors
- Duke University, B.A., English, cum laude
- Texas
- State Bar of Texas, Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section, Executive Committee, 2021-2024; Member, 2006-Present
- The University of Texas at Austin Energy and Earth Resources Graduate Program, Advisory Committee, 2021-Present
- Southern Methodist University Public Policy/Public Administration Graduate Program, Advisory Committee, 2024-Present
- American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, 2020-Present
- Dallas Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, Chair, 2018; Member, 2006-Present
- Regional Innovation Award, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2024
- Fellow, SMU Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity, 2020-2022
- Excellence in Green Power Award, EPA, 2019
- Sustainability Award, TXU Energy, 2019
- Outstanding Initiative Award, Air North Texas, 2019
- Top U.S. Sustainable Metros Award, Site Selection Magazine, 2018
- Banks Fellowship, The University of Texas at Austin, 2003
- Vargas Presidential Scholarship, The University of Texas at Austin, 2003
- Dean's Excellence Award, The University of Texas at Austin, 2003
- Laska Award, Duke University, 2000